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825941

Title
Album containing views of Devonshire, South America and Tahiti, ca. 1830-1851 / drawn by Conrad Martens and Rebecca Martens
Creator
Conrad Martens, 1801-1878
Call number
DL PX 23
Level of description
fonds
Date

ca. 1830-1851
Type of material
Graphic Materials, Drawings, Watercolours
Reference code
825941
Physical Description
1 album - 25 watercolours, 2 wash drawings and 39 pencil sketches - 26.8 x 39 cm
Scope and Content
f.1 View on the Cotter. Unsigned. Dated ‘Oct 13 1830’ and titled at upper right; also dated and titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand.
f.2 At Bickley. Unsigned. Dated ‘Oct 30 1830’ and titled at upper right; also dated and titled, ‘At Backley [sic]’ on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand.
f.3 Dawlish. Unsigned. Dated ‘June 7 1831’ and titled at lower right; also dated and titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand.
f.4 Exmouth. Unsigned. Dated ‘June 7 1831’ and titled at upper right; also dated and titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand. A note at lower right reads ‘7 x 4’8’-‘.
f.5 Branscombe. Unsigned. Dated ‘July 2 1831’ and titled at upper right; also dated and titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand.
f.6 Mount Edgecombe from Mount Bolten. Unsigned. Dated ‘July 25 1831’ and titled at lower right; also dated and titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand.
f.7 Near Ivy Bridge. Unsigned. Dated ‘July 27/31’ and titled at lower right; also titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand, and note ‘See over’ referring to pencil sketch on back ‘John Gilpin Valpariso’ (f.7a)
f.7a The John Gilpin, Valpariso. Unsigned. Dated ‘Augst 3/34’ and titled at upper left with added note ‘made a passage of 15000 miles averaging 186 1/10 miles per day’. Drawing is on back of ‘Near Ivy Bridge’ (f.7)
f.8 Plymouth Citadel. Unsigned. Dated ‘July 25 1831’ and titled at lower right; also dated and titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand, and a note ‘See over’ referring to a pencil sketch on back, of an unidentified ship.
f.8a [Sketch of unidentified ship]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. Sketch is on back of ‘Plymouth Citadel’ (f.8).
f.9 Cliffs near Branscombe. Unsigned. Dated ‘July 6/31’ and titled at lower right; also dated and titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand, and a note ‘See over’ referring to drawing on back.
f.9a [Watercolour of unidentified sailing boat]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. On back of ‘Cliffs near Branscombe’ (f.9)
f.10 Near Ivy Bridge. Unsigned. Dated ‘July 27 1831’ and titled, very faintly along right edge; also dated on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand.
f.11 [River scene with cliff]. Unsigned. Dated ‘Sept 14—31’ at upper right. Untitled.
f.12 On the Otter, Devon. Unsigned. Dated ‘Oct 16--31’ and titled along left edge; also dated and titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand, and on back ‘On the Otter Devon Oct 16 1831’ in unknown hand.
f.13 Withycombe. Unsigned. Dated ‘Sept 7 1832’ and titled at lower left.
f.14a [Waterfall]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.14b [Fishing boat]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.14c [Boat under sail]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.14d [Boat beaching through surf]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.15 Allington Castle. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at upper right.
f.15b Maidstone church. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at upper right.
f.15c Sunset. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower centre.
Notes, some concerning colour, are written in pencil on the sheet of which the leaf f.15(c) forms half.
f.16a [Fishing village]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.16b [Fishing fleet]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.16c [Dinghy near boat]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.16d [Brig]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.17a [Country scene]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. This sketch with f.17(b) and f.17(c) are drawn on the same sheet.
f.17b [Woodland scene]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.17c [Boats beached in estuary]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.18a [Road scene with church spire in background] Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.18b [Boats beached in estuary]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.18c [Two boats]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.18d [Boat beached in estuary showing ships at anchor in background]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.19a [Unfinished watercolour]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.19b [Beach cave]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.20a [Five studies of sailing ships]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. A note along the left edge reads ‘x off lot’.
On the reverse side of the leaf there is an incomplete pencil sketch covered in notes regarding colour, upside down in relation to f.20(a). Drawn on the same sheet is f.20(b).
f.20b Review on Woodbury Hill. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower edge. Two minute pencil studies for paintings on the upper part of the sheet are each labelled ‘Dewins’.
f.21 [Coastal scene with cliffs]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.22 [River scene in forest]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.23 [Rochester Castle]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled; probably Rochester Castle, see following sketch at f.24
f.24 Rochester Castle. Unsigned. Undated. Titled on back in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand and on mount at lower right in same hand.
f.25 Rochester. Unsigned. Dated ‘1831’ and titled at lower left.
f.26 Rochester Castle. Unsigned. Undated. Titled on back in Sir William Dixson’s hand.
f.27 St. Lucia, Cape de Verde Islands. Signed ‘CM’ at lower right below frame line. Undated. Titled ‘St Lucia’ at lower centre and ‘Cape de Verde Islands’ at lower right. Signature and date appear to have erased and overwritten not in Martens’ hand.
f.28 Port Louis, East Faulkland. Unsigned. Dated ‘Sept 19 1851’ at lower right below title; date has either been erased or rubbed so that it is very faint. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.29 Beagle Channel. Unsigned. Dated ‘[?] 1851’ at lower right below title; date has either been erased or rubbed so that it is very faint. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.30 Beagle Channel. Unsigned. Date has either been erased or rubbed so that it is very faint. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.31 Beagle Channel. Unsigned. Dated ‘Oct - 1851’ at lower right below title; date has either been erased or rubbed so that it is very faint. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.32 Entrance to Ponsonby Sound from the Beagle Channel. Unsigned. Dated ‘Decber [?] 1851’ at lower right below title; date has either been erased or rubbed so that it is very faint. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens. Also titled on mount at lower right in Sir William Dixson’s (?) hand with added note, ‘(C.America)’.
f.33 Ponsonby Sound. Unsigned. Dated ‘October 1851’ [?] at lower right below title; date has either been erased or rubbed so that it is very faint. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.34 Ponsonby Sound. Unsigned. Date is too faint to decipher. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. A comparison with Ponsonby Sound in Rebecca Martens’, ‘Sketches and watercolours’ ref: DL PX36, f.58, indicate that this drawing is a copy by Rebecca after the original by Conrad Martens in that album.
f.35 Jenny Bottons Island, Ponsonby Sound. Unsigned. Undated. Titled along lower edge not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.36 Jenny Bottons Island, Ponsonby Sound. Unsigned. Date to faint to decipher. Titled along lower right not in Martens’ hand. A comparison with ‘Jimmy Button’s Island’ in Rebecca Martens’, ‘Sketches and watercolours’ ref: DL PX36, f.57, indicate that this drawing is a copy by Rebecca after the original by Conrad Martens in that album.
f.37 Ponsonby Sound. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens. The drawing is similar to f.40 in the same volume.
f.38 [View, probably of Ponsonby Sound]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.39 Mount Sarmiento 7000 ft. Unsigned. Dated ‘-1851’, almost completely erased. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.40 Ponsonby Sound. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower right. There is an ‘R’ in an unknown hand above title, almost erased, similar to that on many of Rebecca Martens drawings. The drawing is very similar to f.37 in the same volume, which is probably a copy by Rebecca Martens.
f.41 Ponsonby Sound. Unsigned. Dated ‘-1851’ at lower right below title, almost completely erased. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.42a The Adventure [three views of the ship]. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower centre. There are two notes, one at upper right ‘going before mast’ and one at lower centre ‘mid quarters’.
f.42b [The fishing boats]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. This drawing is upside down and on the verso of f.42a.
f.42c Erme River. Unsigned. Dated ‘July 28, 1831’. Titled at lower left; another title ‘On the Erme’ is at lower centre.
f.42d The Adventure. Unsigned. Dated ‘June 11, 1834’ at lower right. Title preceeds date. A note at upper left reads ‘The Fury Rocks and Entrance to Cockburn Channel’.
f.43 View from Putney Bridge, Quebraba Angreliou, Valpariso. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at upper right, not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.44 Quebraba Elia. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.45 Quebrada, St. Augustine. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.46 [View, possibly Valparaiso]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.47 Valpraiso. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower right not in Martens’ hand. Probably the work of Rebecca Martens.
f.48 [Scene, possibly in South America]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. Not considered to be by Martens. Comparisons with Syms Covington's drawings on the voyage of the Beagle, 1831-1836, indicate that it is probably the work of Covington.
f.49 Catalina at Valpariso – Edwd Vischer Esq. Unsigned. Dated ‘Sep. 29/34’ and titled at upper right.
f.50 Adventure wind on starboard quarter. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at upper right.
f.50b Part of Plymouth from the Hoe. Unsigned. Date ‘July 25’ follows title at lower right.
f.51 [Heavey sea]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.52 Double fishing canoe at Tahiti. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at upper right. There is a descriptive note, ‘reef with a heavy sea’ at upper left and notes regarding colours around the canoe. Another title in Sir William Dixson’s hand is on mount at lower right.
f.53 Banana & Pawpaw trees, Tahiti. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower left.
f.54 Banana with fruit, brown dead leaves hanging down the stem. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower left. A note at centre left indicates ‘purple flower’.
f.55 View at Papara, Tahiti. Unsigned. Undated. Titled at lower right.
f.56 Point Venus from One Tree Hill, Tahiti. Unsigned. Dated on back, ‘Drawn in February 1835’ probably in the hand of R.T. Carter, (compare with letters held in M.L. ref. Am4 and in Newscuttings Q991 v.9, p.153 verso). Titled at lower right.
f.57 Moorea near Tahiti. Unsigned. Undated. Titled on back in Sir William Dixson’s (?) and also on mount at lower right.
f.58 [Ship at sea]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.59 [Ship in tropical lagoon, possibly at Tahiti]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.60 [Coastal scene, possibly at Tahiti]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
f.61 [Two sketches of a ship]. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.
Copying Conditions
Out of copyright: Artist died before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Description source

SLNSW Mitchell Library Pictures Card Catalogue
General note

‘Conrad Martens Sketches’ – Cover.
Bookplate of ‘Sir William Dixson’ – Inside front cover.
f.50, f.51, f.60 have been reproduced in Conrad Martens : life & art / Elizabeth Ellis. Sydney : State Library of New South Wales Press, 1994.
Robert Thomas Carter was an art dealer who purchased many drawings by Martens. He often added his own pencil inscriptions to the drawings, usually details about locations and prices. The majority were sold to David Scott Mitchell and William Dixson. (Conrad Martens : life & art / Elizabeth Ellis, p. 88)
Signatures / Inscriptions

Several sheets have additional drawings on backs, and several have been taken out of a small sketchbook, with two or more drawings on each and some also have written notes.
Attributions / conjectures

47 drawings are the work of Conrad Martens, and 18 are probably by Rebecca Martens.
Comparisons of work between Conrad Martens and Rebecca Martens done by art restorer, Mr. D. Setelik in 1971.
Creator/Author/Artist
Martens, Rebecca, 1838-1909
Covington, Syms, 1813-1861
Name
Adventure (Ship)
John Gilpin (ship)
Catalina (ship)
Carter, Robert Thomas
Topic
landscapes (views)
houses
sketchbooks
coasts
ships
castles
fishing boats
banana palms
Place
Devon (England)
South America
Valparaíso (Chile)
Tahiti (French Polynesia : Island).
Rochester Castle (Kent, England)
Ponsonby Sound (South America)
Beagle Channel (South America)
Exhibited in

Journeys through Landscapes - Conrad Martens Life & Art - State Library of New South Wales (21 November, 1994 - 3 July, 1995). Applies to: ff. 19, 25, 26, 27, 28
The legacy of Charles Darwin in Australia - Ian Potter Museum of Art. Applies to: f. 60
Charles Darwin: voyages and ideas that shook the world - Australian National Maritime Museum (March 2009 - August 2009). Applies to: no. 28, 36
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IE8677039